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St. Martha

Christ in the House of Martha and Mary by Tintoretto

Dorothy Day said: "If everyone were holy and handsome, it would be easy to see Christ in everyone. But it was not Christ's way for himself. Ask honestly what you would do when a beggar asked at your house for food. Would you give it on an old cracked plate, thinking that was good enough? Do you think that Martha and Mary thought that the old and chipped dish was good enough for their guest? It is not a duty to help Christ -- it is a privilege." In what ways do you serve Christ others grudgingly or sparingly? How can you serve them the way Martha served Christ, putting her whole self into it?

This quote by Dorothy Day is very thought provoking. The line that struck me most was, "...It is not a duty to help Christ-- it is a privilege." When I do any type of ministry work, I can see that privilege clearly. However in the day to day, seemingly mundane activities of my life I can so easily lose sight of the fact that I am called to "help Christ" as well.Martha did put her whole self into serving her Lord. Yes, perhaps a bit to the extreme at times~ forgetting to sit at His feet for awhile and gain "the better part"; and yes she did get a little whiny about her sister not helping her, but Jesus knew her heart and her faith and He loved her for all that she was.

My Dear Lord Jesus,I want to serve You in all areas of my life with all that I am and have. May I give You, through those You send me, the very best I have~never the chipped and broken.Through the intercession of St. Martha may I remember the privilege it is to be at and in Your service.Amen.

Comments

Karinann, this is beautiful! It is so hard sometimes to feel that we are serving Christ in all of the ordinary, mundane tasks of our lives, but if we can learn to really see him and feel him, even in ourselves when we are alone, we can do everything with joy knowing that it is Him that we serve.

I recently read a great book "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver, you might enjoy it!

So glad to read this...and the most important as you already commented, is serving Christ is a priviledge. I want this engraved on my mind, heart and soul. I really needed to read this, and I really need to remember it. Thank you~